Trek around Ireland reaches Meath

By Michael Dowling

While most young men spend their summer working, two brothers from Bray are hiking around Ireland to raise money for Focus Ireland.

Andrew and Stephen Hill passed through Navan and the Hill Of Tara last week as part of a 1,200 mile trek around the country over ten weeks.

The brothers are making sure they keep off the main road, using country trails and walkways and even walking over mountains on the gruelling adventure.

Andrew came up with the idea. 'When I was a child I often wondered could I do it and then recently we decided we should do it. We started planning it about six months ago.'

They began in Offaly on 27th May, canoeing to Killaloe before walking around the west and north and now the east of the country. They plan to finish in Kerry in August.

The lads have had to improvise for their night time accommodation, putting up their tent in parks, fields and other open areas or being sponsored to stay in B'n'B's, but they feel it is well worth it.

'We chose Focus Ireland because it's an Irish charity so we know where the money is going', said Andrew, who completed his Masters in Ancient History at Trinity College last year. Stephen begins an Outdoor Education course in Coolock in September.